'Shocking' link between drug use and domestic abuse

More than three quarters of those arrested for violence against women test positive for drugs

More than 75% of those arrested for violent offences against women and girls in Dorset had cocaine or heroin in their system – a pilot project has found.

Over an eight month period, Dorset Police tested 62 people who had been arrested for offences like domestic abuse and found 52 had tested positive for class A drugs.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick told Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's Police and Crime Panel that more needed to be done around the issue of crime, drugs and alcohol.

Councillor Alastair Keddie described the relationship between Class A drug use and domestic abuse as "absolutely shocking".

Speaking at the meeting on 24 July, Mr Sidwick said: "I am very clear that we have to keep up the pressure about this, we have to keep lobbying Government because they are not doing enough."

He added they also needed to look at the work that they were doing locally.

Dorset Police conducted drug tests on arrest between April 2024 and January 2025 - when officers apprehended 1,446 people for violence against women and girls.

The Home Office has been approached for a comment.